Powerful audio performance with boosted, deep bass and crisp high-mids. No distortion even at top volumes. Extremely secure fit with several eartip options.

Cons

Sculpted sound signature not for purists. Bulky design not for everyone.

Bottom Line

The Audio-Technica ATH-CKX7iS earphones offer a secure fit with excellent bass depth and balance at a very reasonable price.

I once expected earphones below $100 to be flawed purveyors of weak bass and distortion. Now, while it's still rare, a $79.95 (direct) earphone pair like the Audio-Technica ATH-CKX7iS SonicFuel can produce rich, deep bass and clear, crisp high-mids and highs while remaining distortion-free at top volumes. These are very secure-fitting earphones that, despite their relative bulk, deliver comfort and quality beyond their price and earn our Editors' Choice award award for mid-price earphones.

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DesignThe ATH-CKX7iS is a rather chunky pair of in-canal earphones available in black, blue, purple, red, or white. Audio-Technica outfitted each earpiece with a unique 360-degree rotating eartip that allows for a more secure in-ear fit. They certainly don't hurt, but the earphones didn't needed much help in the first place thanks to their highly effective "C-tips," fin-like silicone attachments that help stabilize the earphones.

The package includes three different sizes of C-tip pairs, four different sizes of silicone eartip pairs, and a fifth pair of Comply foam eartips. The Comply eartips are probably the most effective eartips on the market in terms of fit stability, and are further aided by the C-tips. The ATH-CKX7iS also ships with a drawstring protective pouch, presumably for holding just the earphones once you've found your ideal C-tip/eartip combination.

A flat, linguini-style audio cable descends from each eartip and features an inline remote control and microphone for mobile devices. The remote has a volume slider and a single button that can play, pause, or skip tracks and answer or end calls, all depending on the number of button presses. The volume slider isn't particularly precise, but it allows for adjustments when your phone or tablet is buried in a pocket or bag. Like most volume controls on wired headphones, the slider works independently of your mobile device.

PerformanceOn tracks with intense sub-bass content, like The Knife's "Silent Shout," the ATH-CKX7iS delivers a very healthy dose of deep low-end. At top and unsafe listening levels on both the earphones and the sound source (in this case, an Apple iPhone 5s), the earphones do not distort despite outright embracing the deep lows this track produces. Several earphone pairs that cost twice as much have failed this test.

Bill Callahan's "Drover" gives us a better idea of the ATH-CKX7iS's overall sound signature beyond a bass stress test. His baritone vocals get a nice treble edge presence that allows them to stay in the forefront of the mix, alongside the guitar strums. The low-mids aren't boosted too much here, so his vocals don't get the added (and hardly necessary) richness with which some earphones often coat them. The drums receive some added sub-bass presence, but it's a pleasant amount that lets the kit still sound natural and not like a drum machine.

On Jay-Z and Kanye West's "No Church in the Wild," the kick drum loop gets just enough high-mid presence to let its sharp attack slice through the dense mix. The sub-bass synth hits that punctuate the drum loop pack plenty of bass punch, and their sense of ferocity is helped out by a high-mid raspy edge. The vocals on this track float cleanly over the entire aural assault.

Classical tracks, like the opening scene in John Adams' "The Gospel According to the Other Mary," give an even better idea of just how much bass boosting we're dealing with. The ATH-CKX7iS provides a substantial amount, but primarily in the very low and sub-bass ranges. The low-mids aren't obscenely boosted, so the lower range strings sound fairly natural, but they get a little bit more deep resonance at times. The mix, however, is commanded by the high-mid presence of higher register brass, strings, and vocals. This is not a sound signature for purists. It's for those who want a crisp, balanced sound with an added dollop of deep lows artfully mixed in.

The Audio-Technica ATH-CKX7iS SonicFuel feels like a bargain, and I'd have no problem with its graceful sound signature and secure fit costing over $100 instead of $80. Its artful sound sculpting isn't for everyone, however, and if you want even more impact, you should consider the exciting deep-bass-infused SOL Republic Amps HD In-Ear Headphones if you want truly insane, booming low end. If you like the idea of the ATH-CKX7iS's crisp sound with deep low richness and have a bit more money to spend, consider the Klipsch R6i or the more expensive, step-up version of the AH-CKX7iS, the Audio-Technica AH-CKX9iS Sonic Fuel. If you want to spend less money, you can still get quality performance (though not on the same level as the ATH-CKX7iS) in the Editors' Choice JLab Fit.

Audio-Technica ATH-CKX7iS Sonic...

Audio-Technica ATH-CKX7iS SonicFuel

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